Tubular lamp retaining device



' April 28, 1942.

s; B. SANFORD TUBULAR LAMP RETAINING DEVICE Filed May 21, 1941 Fla.

5M, 03% SW INVENTOR ATTORNEY electric lamps,

lamp holder brackets ing opposite the Patented Apr. 28, 1942 I TUBunAn LAM}? OFFICE anmnme'o. DEVICE Selden Bradley Sanford, Yonkers, N.

Y., assignor to Otis Elevator Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey p.

Application May 21, 1941, Serial No."394,42

The invention relates to retainers for tubular especially fluorescent lamps used for lighting.

Tubular fluorescent lamps are mounted on flxtures havingbrackets at each end for receiving The lamp fixtures are i the ends of the lamps. usually mounted horizontally overhead with the extendingv downwardly. Each end of the lamp has two pins; connected to the lamp heater element, which are adapted to engage spring contacts in the brackets to comiaces of the brackets these slots are vertical and connect with annular slots which form ockets. Upon the pins comannular slot as the end of the lamp is inserted in its socket, the lamp is turned, moving the pins in the annular slot into position engaging the spring. contacts. The spring contacts are formed in such way that they exert a force on the pins. to hold the lamp in position.

i 3 01811118. (Cl. 173-328) thecli p is pulled forwardandas it'swings about its pivot the lobes move oil the sides of the brackplete the lamp circuits; Slots are provided in the into which the pins are slid in mounting the lamp in the fixture. Usually et snapping the clip into and'latching it in retaining position.

a general idea cf the invention, the mode of carrying itjout which is at present preferred,

andvarious features and advantages thereof will statements. Other be gained from the above features and advantages of be apparent from the appended claims.

in the drawing:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation in side elevation and with parts in section of, a tubular fluorescent lamp mounted in a fixtureembodythe invention will ing the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentaldetail in perspective of the end of the lamp latched in position in 1 one of the lamp holder brackets of Figure l; and,

However, it sometimes happens'that the ends of the lamp come out of their sockets, asfor exam- 2 Y the lamp.

ple, due to improper mounting'of the" brackets or the jarring of the lamps out of position by vibration, with the result that the lamp: falls and breaks. Also, the lamp in falling may strike and injure someone. i

The object of the invention is to provide retainers for lamps of the above. character which insure holding the lamp in its fixture should one or both its ends come out of their sockets.

The invention involves the provision'of a retaming clip for each end of the lamp "pivotally mounted on the lamp bracket'which' is automaticallyheid in released positionwhen the lamp is not in placebut which whenthe lamp is inserted in its sockets springs into retaining position automatically upon being swung over .the end of the lamp and remains latched there. In carrying out the invention according to the arrangement Figure 3 is a similar view in perspective with the lamp removed showing the lamp holder bracket with the clip in released position.

Referring first to Figure 1, a tubular fluorescent lamp, designated I0,

holder brackets ll These and l2,'one at each endof brackets extend from a casing l3. Each bracket is secured to the casing by a screw it extending through a slot in the base I 5 of the bracket into a cross-bar I6 secured to the sides of the casing. Referring opening I! formed also to Figure 3, each bracket has a circular in the face thereof. A circular lug it formed on the back of the bracket extends into the circular opening and is concentric therewith, forming an annular slot. Spring conwhich will be described, the clip is U-shaped with w the yoke fitting under the end of the lamp. The u p r ends of the clip are bent inwardly and extendinto apertures in the sides of the bracket to form a pivotal mounting. Between the yoke and the ends of the wire, the clip is bent inwardly to form lobes; the distance between the lobes. being less than the width of the bracket. The clip is formed or spring wire so that when it is pulled outwardly about its pivot to disensage the'end of the lamp, the lobes engage the sides of the bracket to hold the clip in released position. To latch the end of a lamp in position,

ll and across the tacts 20 and 2] are arranged in the circular opening beneath the face of the bracket. These spring contacts are arranged one on each side or the lug 18 with respect to the vertical center line. Each spring I! and is formed A vertical slot 23 extends upwardly from the lower end of the bracket into the ci'rcularopening face of the lug. l8. In inserting the end of the lamp in its socket,- the pins 24 on the end cap 25 of the lamp are aligned with the vertical slot 23 and are slid upwardly therein until they come opposite the top and bottom or the annular slot. When this point is reached the lamp is turned so that one pin is swung under one spring contact and the other pin under the other spring contact, the lamp being turned at an angle of degrees so as to place the pins at the angle points IQ of the spring following description and is mounted in lamp.

downwardly.

is bent at an angle at the point with a lip 22 at its lower end.

The yoke may go Inasmuch as the lobes 2 contacts so that these contacts will hold the lamp in turned position.

To prevent the falling of the lamp in the event that either end should come out of its socket, each bracket is provided with a retaining clip 30. This clip is U-shaped with the yoke 3| of the U extending under the end of the lamp as shown also in Figure 2. The yoke is of a diameter to fit in the groove 32 provided in end cap 25. Near the top of the clip at the points 33, the legs of the U are bent backwardly away from the end of the lamp and the ends 34 of the clip are bent inwardly at right angles to extend into apertures 35 provided in the sides of the bracket to forms. pivot. Just below the points 33 and in front of the face of the inwardly to form lobes 36, the distance between the lobes being less than thedistance between the sides of the-bracket. The clip is made of spring wire and is in a state of tensionto retain the lobes in front of the face of the bracket, thereby latching theclip in the retaining position; I

To release the clip, about its pivot moving the end of the lamp. As this movement'takes place, the lobes engage the sides of the bracket and exert a camming action to spread the ends, permitting the lobes to ride upon the sides of the bracket The clips remain in thisposition, permitting the lamp to be'removed and replaced. When a lamp has been mounted in the sockets the clips are pulled inwardly about their pivots to place the yokes beneath the ends of the lamp. As each clip swings forward, its lobes ride off the sides of the bracket, moving toward each other to snap the clip forward into retaining 'gposition. beyond the groove when it is pushed backwardily snapped in place but moving out from beneath the lamp. It is seen therefore that the clips act as safety members to prevent the tube falling out of its fixture in case one or both its ends tend to come out of their sockets. to the spreading of the brackets, the yoke of the clip remains in the groove to prevent thetube falling out of its fixture as the distance between the end of the lamp and the'bracket increases.-

ing position, the retaining action is assured. Also, the lobes riding up onto the sides of brackets when the clip. is released,.hold' the clip in released position so that undivided attention may be given to .the handling of the. tubes.

position to released position and as the clip remains attached to the bracket at all times it is t not subject to being mislaid or lost.

The clips may be applied to brackets other '-than those illustrated and'variations in the construction of the clips may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is intended therefore that all matter contained in bracket, the legs are bent the yoke out from under to-hold the clip in released position.

the lobes prevent the clip 1 Should the trouble be due latch the clip' inretaina "No tools are needed for moving the clip from retainingthe above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A tubular lamp support having a bracket provided with a socket for receiving the end of the lamp and having a spring retaining clip pivotally mounted on the bracket extending around the end of the lamp, characterized in that the clip has camming portions extending partially in front of and over the face of the bracket from each side thereof for holding the clip in lamp retainingv position, said cammin p rtions upon the clip being swung backwardiy, automatically riding up onto the sides of the bracket thereby releasing the clip and thereafter engaging the sides of the bracket to hold the clip' in released position to enable the lamp to be removed from or inserted in said socket.

end of the lamp and having a springwire retaining clip pivotally mounted at its upper end on the'bracket and extending underneath the end of the lamp, characterized in that the clip is' bent inwardly on each side near, its upper end to extend partially in front of the face of the bracket to hold the clip in lamp retaining position, said inwardly bent portions, upon the clip being pushed backwardly, automatically riding up onto the sides of the bracket to release the clip and thereafter remaining in engagement with the sides of the bracket to hold the clip in released condition.

3. A tubular fluorescent lamp support 8. depending bracket provided with asocket in the face thereof for receiving contacting pins on the end sealing cap of the lamp, the'sealing cap being provided with a circumferential groove,

and having a spring wire retaining clip for the end of the lamp, said clip being of U-shaped construction with the yoke extending under the end of the lamp and of a radius to fit in the groove in the end cap, the legs of the clip being bent back near the upper endaway from the I clip are also bent inwardly in front of the face.

of the bracket to form lobes just below the points at which they are bent back, the distance between the lobes being less than. the distance between the sides of the bracket, and said clip being in a state of tension to retain'the lobes in front of the face of the bracket and thus latch the clip in retaining position, said lobes, upon the clip being pushed backwardly, riding up onto the sides of the bracket to automatically spread said legs to enable the clip to be moved back out of the way of thelam'p and thereafter remaining in engagement with the sides of the bracket,

to hold the clipin released position.

SELDEN. BRADLEY SANFORD.

having 

